A Memorial

If your loved one lived within the parish when they died then you have the right to their burial at St John's in Blindley Heath, or to have their ashes interred at either at St John's, or at St Nicholas' in Godstone.

I am allowed to permit memorials after a burial, or an interment of ashes, provided it complies with the restrictions below. I have no authority to permit anything else, but permission can be sought from the Chancellor of the Diocese however I cannot guarantee that permission will be granted in any particular case. Anything introduced into the churchyard without appropriate permission may have to be removed.

(iii) its thickness is, in the case of a slate memorial, between 40 mm (1 1/2 in) and 150 mm (6 in) or, in any other case, between 75 mm (3 in) and 150 mm (6 in);

(iv) any foundation slab is located so that its upper surface is either flush with the surrounding ground level or at least 300 mm (12 in) beneath it;

(f) in the case of a memorial consisting of a vertical headstone on a horizontal slab,

(i) the base is an integral part of the design,

(ii) where it incorporates a receptacle for a flower vase, there is provision for no more than one such vase;

(iii) where it incorporates a receptacle for a flower vase, the base does not project more than 200 mm (8 in) beyond the face of the vertical stone; and

(iv) in any other case, it does not project more than 100 mm (4 in);

(g) in the case of a memorial consisting of a horizontal slab,

(i) it is no more than 600 mm (2 ft) wide and 1800 mm (6 ft) long, and

(ii) its upper surface is flush with the surrounding ground;

(h) the inscription on the memorial contains at least:

(i) the name of the deceased;

(ii) the date of his or her death;

(iii) the date of birth or the age at death,

and any factual material in the inscription is accurate
and

(i) the inscription and any artwork is incised into the stone and, if painted, no more than one colour is used; and

(j) the memorial contains no advertisement or trademark other than the name or mark of the mason which, if included, shall be at the base of the side or rear face of the stone and no more than 13 mm (1/2 in) high.

3. Any other memorial shall only be introduced into a churchyard with the authority of a faculty.

4. Notwithstanding compliance with paragraph 2, the minister shall not approve a proposed memorial if he or she considers that it is:

(i) likely to be controversial for some reason;

(ii) is in any way inappropriate,

and in considering whether to approve a proposed memorial the minister shall have regard to the current version of the document Churchyard Memorials etc. Chancellor's Guidance.

5. "Minister" means the incumbent of the parish in which the churchyard is situated or, where rights of presentation are suspended, the curate licensed to the charge of that parish or the minister acting as priest-in-charge.